Atheist
No religious framework is dictating the choice. A celebration of life — at home, a park, a restaurant, a club — is the most common form. Direct cremation is the lowest-cost path; a memorial can happen anywhere, anytime. Be explicit with the funeral home that you don't want religious language, prayers, or chaplain involvement at the service unless you ask for it.
Direct cremation (no service)
Fair total range nationally: $1,000–$2,500
This is the service type most families in this tradition choose. You can refine with the four-question decision guide if you want to weigh budget or other preferences.
There is no clergy to coordinate with. The family runs the service themselves or asks a friend / celebrant to lead. Most secular celebrants charge $200–$500 for a personalized service.
Cheat sheet for the arrangement meeting
Print this. Bring it. The questions and decline scripts at the top are tailored to atheist practice; the rest is the standard FTC-rights guidance every family should know.
Arrangement meeting cheat sheet — Atheist
honestfuneral.coBring this. Refer to it openly. The funeral director will see you brought it — that alone changes the meeting.
- Will any of your staff or vendors include religious language by default? We want a fully secular service.
- Can we hold the service somewhere other than the funeral home — a park, a home, a restaurant?
Community: There is no clergy to coordinate with. The family runs the service themselves or asks a friend / celebrant to lead. Most secular celebrants charge $200–$500 for a personalized service.
- Embalming (in most US states)
- Buying their casket — bring your own from any vendor
- Buying a vault more expensive than the cemetery requires
- Paying a “handling fee” on a third-party casket
- Casket (300–500% markup)
- Embalming (often unnecessary)
- Burial vault / grave liner
| Basic services fee | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Embalming | $700–$900 |
| Transfer of remains | $200–$350 |
| Death certificates (each) | $10–$25 |
| Casket — 18-gauge metal | $900–$1,400 |
| Casket — wood | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Grave liner / burial vault | $700–$1,200 |
| Headstone / marker | $800–$2,000 |
| Flowers (through funeral home) | $300–$600 |
- Can I see your itemized General Price List before we begin?
- What is your basic services fee, and what exactly does it cover?
- Will you accept a casket I purchase from another vendor at no extra fee?
- Is embalming required for the type of service I want?
- What is the total all-in cost in writing, with every fee included?
- Default chaplain or clergy honorarium: “We don't want a chaplain or clergy. Please remove any line item for officiant or clergy fee — we'll handle the speaking ourselves.”
- Religious music or prayer cards: “We're not having religious music or prayer cards. Please remove those from the package.”
- Premium / 'protective' caskets: “We've decided on a simpler casket. We're not interested in the protective seal — we know it doesn't extend preservation in any meaningful way.”
- Embalming: “We're not having embalming. We understand it isn't legally required for the service we're planning.”
- Memorial package upgrades: “We're going to handle the programs, flowers, and obituary ourselves. Please leave those off the bill.”
These ranges are US national averages adjusted for your region. Your local funeral director may quote different numbers — push back politely and ask why. Faith-specific guidance comes from common American practice; consult your clergy for community-specific customs.